System and method for reducing variations in the penetration depths of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement based on monitored tire pressures

Abstract

In one aspect, a system for reducing variations in the penetration depths between ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement may include an implement having tires spaced apart from each other. The system may also include pressure sensors provided in operative association with the tires, each pressure sensor being configured for detecting an air pressure within the associated tire. Additionally, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the pressure sensors. The controller may be configured to monitor an air pressure differential between a pair of tires based on measurement signals received from the pressure sensors. The air pressure differential may be indicative of variability in the penetration depths of the ground-engaging tools. Furthermore, the controller may be configured initiate a control action associated with reducing the variability in the penetration depths of ground-engaging tools when the air pressure differential exceeds or falls below a predetermined tire pressure differential threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for reducing variations in the penetration depths between ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement, the system comprising:
 an implement including a frame and first and second ground-engaging tools coupled to the frame so as to be spaced apart from one another along a horizontal direction, the first and second ground-engaging tools being configured to penetrate the ground to a penetration depth, the implement further including first and second tires coupled to the frame and spaced apart from each other along the horizontal direction; 
 a first pressure sensor provided in operative association with the first tire for detecting an air pressure within the first tire; 
 a second pressure sensor provided in operative association with the second tire for detecting an air pressure within the second tire; and 
 a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second pressure sensors, the controller being configured to monitor an air pressure differential between the first and second tires based on measurement signals received from the first and second pressure sensors, the monitored air pressure differential being indicative of variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools, 
 wherein the controller is configured to initiate a control action associated with reducing the variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds or falls below a predetermined tire pressure differential threshold set for the implement. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold corresponds to a maximum predetermined tire pressure differential threshold such that the controller initiates the control action when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds the maximum predetermined tire pressure differential threshold. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold corresponds to a minimum predetermined tire pressure differential threshold, the controller being configured initiate the control action associated with reducing the variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools when the monitored air pressure differential falls below the minimum predetermined tire pressure differential threshold. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control action is associated with notifying an operator of the implement that the monitored air pressure differential exceeds the tire pressure differential threshold. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator coupled between the frame and one of the first tire or the second tire, the controller being configured to control the operation of the actuator to adjust the position of one of the first tire or the second tire relative to the frame in a manner that reduces the variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds or falls below the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold set for the implement. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator coupled between a first frame section of the frame and a second frame section of the frame, the controller being configured to control the operation of the actuator being configured to adjust the position of the second section of the frame relative to the first section of the frame in a manner that reduces the variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds or falls below the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold set for the implement. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator coupled between the frame and one of the first ground-engaging tool or the second ground-engaging tool, the controller being configured to control the operation of the actuator to adjust the position of the first ground-engaging tool or second ground-engaging tool relative to the frame in a manner that reduces the variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds or falls below the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold set for the implement. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implement extends in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and an aft end and in a lateral direction between a first side and a second side, the first and second tires being spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction of the implement. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implement extends in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and an aft end and in a lateral direction between a first side and a second side, the first and second tires being spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the implement. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a first frame section and a second frame section, the first ground-engaging tool and the first tire being coupled to the first frame section and the second ground-engaging tool and the second tire being coupled to the second frame section. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first frame section corresponds to a main frame section and the second frame section corresponds to a wing section of the frame pivotably coupled to the main frame section. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first frame section corresponds to a first wing section of the frame and the second frame section corresponds to a second wing section of the frame, the first and second wings sections being pivotably coupled to the main frame section along opposed sides of the main frame section. 
     
     
       13. A method for reducing variations in the penetration depths between ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement, the implement including a frame and first and second ground-engaging tools coupled to the frame so as to be spaced apart from one another along a′horizontal direction, the first and second ground-engaging tools being configured to penetrate the ground to a penetration depth, the implement further including first and second tires coupled to the frame and spaced apart from each other along the horizontal direction, the method comprising:.
 receiving, with a computing device, data indicative of current air pressures of the first and second tires; 
 monitoring, with the computing device, an air pressure differential between the first and second tires, the monitored air pressure differential being indicative of variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools; and 
 initiating, by the computing device, a control action associated with reducing the variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds or frills below a predetermined tire pressure differential threshold set for the implement. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold corresponds to a maximum predetermined tire pressure differential threshold, the control action being initiated when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds the maximum predetermined tire pressure differential threshold. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold corresponds to a minimum predetermined tire pressure differential threshold, the control action being initiated when the monitored air pressure differential falls below the minimum predetermined tire pressure differential threshold. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the control action comprises notifying an operator of the implement that the monitored air pressure differential exceeds the tire pressure differential threshold. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the control action comprises adjusting, with an actuator coupled between the frame and one of the first tire or the second tire, the position of the first tire or the second tire relative to the frame so as to reduce the variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds or falls below the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold set for the implement. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the control action comprises adjusting, with an actuator coupled between a first frame section of the frame and a second frame section of the frame, the position of the first frame section relative the second section so as to reduce the variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging, tools when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds or falls below the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold set for the implement. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the control action comprises adjusting, with an actuator coupled between the frame and one of the first ground-engaging tool or the second ground-engaging tool, the position of the first ground-engaging tool or the second ground-engaging tool relative to the frame so as to reduce the variability in the penetration depths of the first and second ground-engaging tools when the monitored air pressure differential exceeds or falls below the predetermined tire pressure differential threshold set for the implement. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the frame comprises a first frame section and a second frame section, the first ground-engaging tool and the first tire being coupled to the first frame section and the second ground-engaging tool and the second tire being coupled to the second frame section.